161217-0011 - Meriken Hatoba

Harbor launches at the Meriken Hatoba (American Landing Pier), for many years the main pier in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.

As the harbor developed, Meriken Hatoba lost its importance as place of entry and in 1987 the pier finally vanished as it was incorporated into Meriken Park. Incidentally, Meriken is the local pronunciation of American.

In the back is the Bund (Kaigandori). The building with the steeples is the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank on 2 Kaigandori. The large building on the right is the Oriental Hotel on 6 Kaigandori.